CPU is the main device responsible for performance in DOSBox. It's about how fast different CPUs may to be in DOSBox at gaming.One of intentions is to compare the emulation performance of different generations of CPUs and to give base to compare the speed of different PC emulators.Anyone is welcome to post the results of his modern or old PC. In I or II section or both.

I. Common DOS games (non-FPU) performance based on Speed Test and Doom

Testing procedure:1) Get DOSBox 0.74, Speed Test 1.14, Doom 1.9.2) Speed Test in DOS- In case the PC has no DOS, it can be booted to DOS with Boot flash disk created by Rufus. This app has all needed system files. Choose there: FAT32 + FreeDOS or MS DOS and format a flash disk.- Run Speed Test by the command: speedtst /L >res0.txtres0.txt will have the string like "This computer 123 parrots, 456 XT". The needed number is near 'XT'.3) Speed Test in DOSBox- Make default emulator's config by running the shortcut in DOSBox section of Start button: DOSBox->Reset Options.- Mount a folder as disk 'C', for example by writing the strings in [autoexec] section of the config:mount c c:\dosdiskc:The testing have to go in windowed mode only. During the measurement DOSBox's window have to stay active (main) all the time, or changing window focus may reduce resources the emulator gets. No background applications like file managers, antiviruses or other as they take resources.On P3 and earlier Speed Test inside DOSBox may be run without '/L'.On P4 and higher it's better to make measurements inside DOSBox for 3 times to find an average.3.1) In the config set: core=dynamic, scaler=none, cputype=486_slow, cycles=maxRun Speed Test by the command: speedtst /L >res1.txt3.2) In the config set: core=normal, scaler=none, cputype=486_slow, cycles=maxRun Speed Test by the command: speedtst /L >res2.txt3.3) Copy-paste 3 strings with results from these 3 text files or only the numbers near 'XT'.4) Doom in DOSBox- Install Doom in real OS or in DOSBox. Run its setup.exe to set music off and fx off, maximize ingame screen by '='. Also preinstalled and preconfigured Doom may be taken there from that theme.4.1) In the config set: core=dynamic, scaler=none, cputype=486_slow, cycles=maxRun Doom by the command: doom -timedemo demo3 >dres1.txtOn P4 and higher it's better to make this measurement for at least 3 times to find an average.4.2) In the config set: core=normal, scaler=none, cputype=486_slow, cycles=maxRun Doom by the command: doom -timedemo demo3 >dres2.txt4.3) Copy-paste 2 numbers of realtics from these 2 text files or calculate fps by the formula below.5) - Check actual (as max) frequency of CPU during the measurements by CPU-Z, as there are many CPUs with dynamic frequency (turbo mode, SpeedStep). Don't run CPU-Z during measuring of speed on the stages above! On this step you may use SuperPI to set CPU to max 1-core performance to get actual frequency in DOSBox, or to use DOSBox with a benchmark running inside. SuperPI or DOSBox window must stay active (main) during this taking the frequency.- Report your CPU (model, actual frequency) and the measured results.

Real machines for comparision1. Speed Test has its own chart.2. Doom's fps are in Phil's testing.

II. Late DOS games performance based on Quake

Testing procedure:1) - Get DOSBox 0.74- Create a default dosbox-0.74.conf. You need to run DOSBox->Extras->Reset or to delete/rename your current dosbox-0.74.conf, then after you'll run DOSBox it will create a new default dosbox-0.74.conf. In Windows XP dosbox-0.74.conf is situated in Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\DOSBox.- Input these settings in dosbox-0.74.conf:scaler=nonecore=dynamiccputype=pentium_slowcycles=maxAll other settings leave as default.//The part for those who did not use DOSBox previously. To associate games folder with drive 'C' you need to input in DOSBox's .conf section [autoexec] 2 strings:mount c c:\games\c:We assume that Quake will be installed in c:\games\quake. Then, after DOSBox will start, you may type to run it:cd quakequake//2) - Get Quake 1.06 Shareware. Use only this version of the game.- Run DOSBox and install Quake in it3) - Reboot your PC- Close all unnecessary programs, including background ones (antivirus, hardware monitorings, etc.)- Turn off your Internet connections and local network from Control Panel. In Windows XP: Control Panel->Network Connections->Local Area Network, right click->Disable.4) - Run DOSBox and Quake inside of it. During demonstrations for fps measuring use DOSBox in "window mode" only and the focus must stay in the emulator's window (it has to stay active).- After the game's start press ESC.- Enter the game's menu by ESC and set video mode 800x600 (in 320x200 measurements are better to do after as they are quicker). All other settings leave as default.- Open the console by ~. Input: viewsize 120. Then input: timedemo 0 (to stop demonstrations).- Input: timedemo demo1. Close the console by ~ on time of every demonstration. (do so 3 times) [In the console, to call a previous command you may by pressing "up arrow"]// It's not obligatory part. For those who like a little of automation. This will set video mode 800x600, adjust viewsize, stop demonstrations and will allow to play demo1 by a single click of keyboard (you'll need to run demo1 3 times to get average fps in it): F1 for demo1. Other demonstrations: F4 - demo2, F5 - demo3. Insert 5 strings below in the end of file Quake\ID1\config.cfg, and then set config.cfg as "read only":vid_mode 13viewsize 120timedemo 0bind F1 "timedemo demo1"bind F4 "timedemo demo2"bind F5 "timedemo demo3"//- Open the console and look at fps results. You may list the text in the console up/down by PgUp/PgDn. Calculate average fps from 3 results there. Do same for 320x200 video mode.- Then check actual (as max) frequency of CPU during demonstrations run by CPU-Z. As there are many CPUs with dynamic frequency (turbo mode, SpeedStep). The game's window must stay active (main) during taking the frequency. Don't run CPU-Z during measuring of fps on the stages above.5) Report your: CPU (model, actual frequency), OS (with 32 or 64 bit), average fps for demo1. It's not obligatory, but additionally you may say average fps in demo2, demo3. Speed in different OS may differ.

Note:Single number of fps is for demo1; where 3 numbers: demo1, demo2, demo3. Results after '/' are for 320x200 mode.If a CPU has turbo mode, then its turbo frequency is placed. DOSBox uses a single core, so when there are no working concurrent programs the CPU most likely works in turbo mode, but not on the base frequency.

Disabling those other services, internet connections and programs shouldn't be necessary, unless your hardware really sucks, then it shouldn't have business running Quake in an emulator anyway

Voodoo2s aren't 100mhz stockGeforce256 isn't released as a beta on New Years '99 under the Quadro brand386DX vs SX isn't about a missing FPUDOS gaming isn't a bilinear 320x200 16:10DOS PCs aren't better than the MacintoshOld PCs aren't 'aesthetic'

Everything besides video mode must be as default. If default viewsize is not 100 then it's not appropriate, and in other case it's redundant.Also, your offer is not significantly easier for a single game run for testing. Besides 10 sec to set video mode with game's menu, you'll need then to type manually in console timedemo to run the demonstration 2 times more.

Disabling those other services, internet connections and programs shouldn't be necessary

As programs may use CPU resources, then it's desirable. Network processes running in the background may take resources too.

unless your hardware really sucks

Your understanding of computers is very original. Anyway, any IBM PC is allowed for testing where DOSBox runs. If DOSBox may work in Windows 9x then even 386/486 may take part in the chart.For example, on C2D I get 2 fps of loss during this testing when someone downloads/uploads data from me in my net. Besides net processes, we can't imagine all demanding miracles wich people may load on start-up and how that apps may interfere affecting system performance. So, the cleaner system memory - the more accurate results.

F2bnp wrote:I get 33fps on my Phenom II x6 1090T

OS (with 32/64 bits)?Is CPU frequency standard - 3.2 GHz?

I might get an FX 8320 for cheap this week, if so I will definitely try this out again .

CPU i7 2600 at stock (3,4 GHZ). Win 8.1 64bittimedemo 1: 44,7 FPSVery constant, by the way. I ran the demo 4 times and it came out at 44,7 every time. If something happens in the background (nothing big, just another program working or so), it may go down to 43 FPS or so, but basically DOSBox does a great job

Some more testing: in fullscreen, I get 45,8 FPS constantly (so its a little bit higher)

SDL video output can be a bottleneck and affect Dosbox CPU cycle controller.

Mentioned "bottleneck" exists on every system, is minor and using frameskip would change the proportions between performances in not significant degree. While as this setting is not typicaly used, so the results just would become farther from practice.

Tertz wrote:Also, your offer is not significantly easier for a single game run for testing.

Make it a batch file then.

Tertz wrote:you'll need then to type manually in console timedemo to run the demonstration 2 times more.

bind f1 "timedemo demo1"

and just keep tapping F1. The function keys are bindable and work in a disconnected console

Voodoo2s aren't 100mhz stockGeforce256 isn't released as a beta on New Years '99 under the Quadro brand386DX vs SX isn't about a missing FPUDOS gaming isn't a bilinear 320x200 16:10DOS PCs aren't better than the MacintoshOld PCs aren't 'aesthetic'

F2bnp wrote:No, I overclocked it to 4GHz and disabled Turbo. My OS is the same as above, Win 8.1 x64.

Thank you.

I wonder if the latest SVN builds improve perfomance somewhat, might be cool to give that a try.

Not a bad source about CPU for games is thg. According to a chart I saw for GTA 5, for additional $60 you may get i5 4590 wich is faster +25% there, compared to FX 8320 at 4 GHz. Similarly in DOSBox you'd get 34 fps +25% = ~43-46 fps. Some shops support return during several days, I'd think about this if some more speed in games is important.

Tried the latest EmuCR build, managed to get a whopping 1 frame per second more . 35fps is about as good as it gets I guess, I imagine with an Intel CPU you might see more of a performance gain with this build, I suggest trying it out.

Thanks for the suggestions Tertz, but I'm not really interested in upgrading any further, this was a very inexpensive upgrade and I had been toying around with the idea for a while. I'd rather keep my money for when truly significant CPUs arrive and DDR4 becomes mainstream.